Rafael Benítez will return to work on Wednesday to prepare for a home game
against Wigan that has become critical for Chelsea’s Champions League
ambitions and his chances of seeing out the season at Stamford Bridge.

Frustrated figure: Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez was irritated by his players' inability to close out the game against Newcastle when they were 2-1 upPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

The interim manager will take a rare break to spend 72 hours with his family during the international break this week, but will return to London knowing that his future could hinge on the result next weekend.

Defeat to Newcastle on Saturday has heaped added pressure on the manager, who has been charged with delivering a minimum target this season of a place in the top four by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Despite opposition from fans, Benítez has thus far retained the support of Abramovich and his advisers despite recent indifferent results. That faith will evaporate should a top-four place appear in genuine jeopardy.

Chelsea’s high command were understood to be viewing the situation as “business as usual” yesterday, indicating that Benítez is safe for now. He is understood to have received messages of support from Abramovich confidantes in recent weeks, with agreement that he is right to highlight the balance of the squad, and the strain on resources of injuries and call-ups, as a factor in recent struggles.

In ordinary circumstances at an ordinary club Benitez would not be under pressure. Having inherited an unbalanced squad stretched by injuries and call-ups, and had limited time to work with them, Champions League football is well in their grasp. But thanks to Abramovich's erratic decision making this is no ordinary club.

Benítez has insisted throughout this recent run that results have not matched performances, and his employers have sympathy with that view. They may not be so indulgent should the run continue however, though a lack of stand-in options – Avram Grant is a perennial candidate, though not one to inspire the dressing room – also weighs in Benitez’s favour.

That said, definitions of “normal” can be elastic at Chelsea. It is true that Chelsea’s squad is unbalanced and strained by an intense programme – the bench was particularly thin at St James’ Park – but Benítez is in dire need of a win against Wigan.

The loss at St James’ Park means Chelsea have won just one of their last six matches, the victory over Arsenal two weeks ago that appeared to endorse Benitez’s argument that the side were making progress.

Since then they have drawn 2-2 in the FA Cup at Brentford, frittered away a 2-0 lead to draw at Reading, and seen Newcastle mount a late recovery to win on Saturday.

After Wigan, Chelsea face home-and-away ties in the Europa League against Sparta Prague either side of the FA Cup replay against Brentford, followed by a visit to Manchester City. It is a pivotal run, particularly after Tottenham tightened the gap to fourth to a single point with victory at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

Defeat at Newcastle matched the pattern of recent disappointments, with a position of apparent dominance evaporating late in the game. Chelsea were on top, with Juan Mata inspiring a comeback from 1-0 down to lead 2-1, before two goals from Moussa Sissoko turned the game.

To compound the disappointment Demba Ba suffered a broken nose leaving Fernando Torres the only fully-fit striker. Benítez felt the incident that caused the injury, a kick in the face from Fabricio Coloccini, should have resulted in the Newcastle player being sent off and a penalty awarded. It will be small comfort that Torres will be among the handful of players at Cobham this week having been dropped by Spain.

Benítez blamed defeat on a failure to control Newcastle’s counter-attacks.

“We were winning 2-1 and then we allowed them to play counter attacking football four or five times,” he said. “I was really pleased with the reaction of the players and the second-half performance but we have to manage it in a better way, and show better experience when we are winning because at 2-1 with Mata running the show we looked on our way to victory.

“We were on top and had control, but we didn’t have the experience to stop the counter-attacks. Every time you lose it is something you cannot change but you have to improve. We have to think about one game at a time and we have to try and win.”

Benítez said the return of players at the Africa Cup of Nations and those injured, particularly David Luiz, would help.

“The top four is the priority and we will try and get in the top three. We have four players coming back so hopefully we can manage things a bit better.”